Looking to try first club CF Benchrest match

[davidjoe]

This a .222 Remington magnum, single shot 40-X. I have owned it for years but never used it. I think the .223 put the .222 magnum on the endangered list.

This is certainly not state of the art, and I’m aware of that, but the stock is a beautifully refinished 40-X single shot from a 6 Remington Ackley improved 40-X of a late central Texas gentleman, who was a respected veteran and gunsmith, and I’d like to use it in a match in Travis County.

Then I may transition later on to a true flat bottomed BR stock, and I have a Remington green Custom Shop stock that currently has a .22 LR 40-X in it. But I’m not ruling out that this may perform as well as the barreled action can do. Which is a big question.

I have 400 pieces of virgin brass. Any suggestions guys? I can lay hands on quite a few kinds of .22 bullets, but powder choices and charges for light bullets is rather new ground for me.

Secondly, this yellow stock, feather weight, was one of Mr. Berger’s. I purchased several of them a few years ago, just as bare stocks. Can anyone tell from the inletting, or perhaps from match memory, what action and barrel contour this would need? I believe he favored a particular one, from appearances. It’s definitely for light gun competition. I’d have to very much surprise myself at BR, before I’d use one of his, but the possibility of it would be a nice form of internal self-motivation.

 

[BoydAllen]

I believe that the stock is inletted for a glued in Panda, right bolt , right port. An older action might not have an ejector. The cut on the left side is for the bolt stop. If it is old it is probably a Lee Six stock. Lee sold his stock operation to Kelbly's ad taught them how to build them. That particular design was originally made by Lee and then continued by Kelbly's. If your .222 mag has a 14" twist you will want some 50 - 53 grain match bullets. For primers I would use 205s or 205Ms but CCI BR4s would be good too. For a powders to try, some of the best are suffering from availability, but for the straight .222 I shot a lot of 748, If I were exploring today, I would try H335, and I might give N133 a try. For my bench .222 H322 does very well and I am lucky enough to have most of an 8 pounder.

 

[davidjoe]

I believe that the stock is inletted for a glued in Panda, right bolt , right port. An older action might not have an ejector. The cut on the left side is for the bolt stop. If it is old it is probably a Lee Six stock. Lee sold his stock operation to Kelbly's ad taught them how to build them. That particular design was originally made by Lee and then continued by Kelbly's. If your .222 mag has a 14" twist you will want some 50 - 53 grain match bullets. For primers I would use 205s or 205Ms but CCI BR4s would be good too. For a powders to try, some of the best are suffering from availability, but for the straight .222 I shot a lot of 748, If I were exploring to day, I would try H335, and I might give N133 a try. For my bench .222 H322 does very well and I am lucky enough to have most of an 8 pounder.

That’s great info. Thank you! I just put the rifle with a fixed power 36x one inch tube scope on the scale and I’m at 13.0. Heavy varmint is 13.5 pounds as I understand it. I’m comfortably in.

So, they have unlimited in NBRSA rules. Understand Austin Rifle Club is under that rule book. Man, long term, that’s kind of a true siren song to my ears. On the one hand, I don’t know if many guys enter in unlimited, and that would make it less fun. But the idea that F-Open gear, or even heavier, could compete is intriguing!

 

[jackieschmidt]

That’s great info. Thank you! I just put the rifle with a fixed power 36x one inch tube scope on the scale and I’m at 13.0. Heavy varmint is 13.5 pounds as I understand it. I’m comfortably in.

So, they have unlimited in NBRSA rules. Understand Austin Rifle Club is under that rule book. Man, long term, that’s kind of a true siren song to my ears. On the one hand, I don’t know if many guys enter in unlimited, and that would make it less fun. But the idea that F-Open gear, or even heavier, could compete is intriguing!

The yellow stock is a Lee Six SPG. I had one years ago that only weighed 21 ounces.
From what ai can remember from 25+ years ago, H322 was the favored powder with 52 grn match bullets in the 222 mag.
The 222 mag case found its calling when Benchrest Shooters necked it up to 6mm, the original 6x47. It was quite popular until the 6PPC made it’s debut.

 

[Will Henry]

I still have a brand new Lee Six SPG 40X stock, which I bought in 1978.
In the 222 Mag, 4895 with 52's worked very well. My friend and mentor, Art Bourne, liked the cartridge and used it in the early 70's. Different times. 4895, H335, RL7. These were all good powders. Today, it is rare that anyone shoots any of the 222 family for short range BR, but I think it would be fun. WH

 

[Kings X]

David this SR benchrest is a far cry from F Class.
Things you will love:
Guns don’t kill your back to haul around. 13-1/2 pounds are feathers compared to 22 pound F Open.
Even though they weigh less - they still recoil a lot less. Your don’t even hold the gun when you pull the trigger.
A pound of powder last months-not one match.
You need a good stool - not a mat.
No need for spotting scopes.
A is of 1000 bullets can get lost in your reloading room because the box is small.
—-
IT so much fun.
One of my 30 BRs just set a club record here with 250-25X. The X is size of a pin head.

 

[davidjoe]

Still the old barreled action, .222 Magnum, but I need to be able is use my front rest and they just aren’t very compatible with beaver tail fore-ends.

“Newer” stock with a flat bottom, that is extremely light. Probably only a 25-30 year old design, with light bullets that are at least that old. These just have to be used before the boxes disintegrate. I don’t even want to know what the BC of these bullets is!

This lighter stock allows an 80x modern March scope. With caps still just under 13.5 pounds. I’ll be zeroing and testing this by early a.m. tomorrow. Richard, miss seeing you on the F-Class circuit!

 

[Sandstorm]

The good old days...that looks like it will work just fine David.
Ive always wanted to try that myself and think probly one day I will....If f-class dont kill me first..lol

 

[snert]

I think the green stock is a factory (custom shop) 40X which was made to copy the old walnut XBR stock? Lighter, stiffer, less expensive to make and sell. Enjoy your shooting. It is very fun to learn on the old stuff. It is a joy to play with and learn on. I shoot two old Sinclair rifles with Lee Six stocks. Darned enjoyable.

Let us know how it goes for you at the range.

 

[davidjoe]

I’m using it right now. I have no flags and load development ahead, and even bullet comparison to do before I trek up to a match. But it has potential to shoot respectably for what it is.

I’m using two bolts because I have one that someone added a leverage screw to, and testing that concept too. The wind right now is 14 with 22 gusts. I’m not picking my way through it because I want to see what the real world drift parameters of 50 grain bullets is.

 

[Kings X]

That is good or better than some of the 'modern" guns.
Go and get your feet wet.

 

[gunsandgunsmithing]

Enjoy and learn! Not much to knock your equipment for. Much more in reading the flags. If the gun shoots, you can win most matches with a deuce. Just gotta be on your game is all. Not much different than any other sr cf match. He who screw up least, usually wins.

 

[Codeman]

Test her out at the BR matches in New Braunfels. Www.Hillcountryshooters.com

 

[D-4297]

Them BR Boys can't wait to beat up a Big Time F-Class shooter . Enjoy the ride .

 

[drop_point]

Good luck, and most importantly, have a great time, David!

 

[Sandstorm]

Youl do just fine......sounds like a lot of fun.

 

[Jud96]

Be warned it’s addictive! I had mild interest in short range BR in April of last year before my first match, fast forward to now and it’s about the only shooting I do anymore. It’s a ton of fun.

 

[davidjoe]

After all this time waiting, there is really not as much difference between .222 and .222 Magnum as I had thought. Triple deuce brass is scarce. Not excited about that fact or expecting a revival.

The stainless barreled guns are .222 Rem and the older black barreled gun is the “magnum” - loosely applies, I suppose as it’s not very different from a .223.

All that I think I know is that a .223 is not apparently very highly regarded in short range BR, and since the .222 Magnum is so similar to it, I hesitated to start with the .222 Magnum.

So now I have these .222’s, some brass, and no experience with a load for 100-200, let’s say. I have a 36X old one inch tube Leupold that would work for BR, but no idea if rings for the bases on the bottom gun are still made.

I imagine the green stock with its flat bottom is a must for one of these stainless barreled guns. I feel like the gun without rings was shot less, and it also has a higher SN.

I’d like to try those dovetail bases just as they sit, but does anyone know what rings I need to find for them?

Also, what should a try for a forgiving, versatile short range BR load? Starting from scratch here.

 

[Larry Koch]

You can shoot VFS all year long in Austin Tx, Last Sunday of the Month. We start at Noon and usually done at 2ish. Winter hours. Austin rifle club, Steve runs the match. get there by 10:30 to 11 to get set up.

 

[davidjoe]

I can see why this becomes addictive. I got the .222 up and running. 13 pounds and change, presumably closer to 13 than 14. Very windy today. I zeroed at 200 and stayed there.

Nothing on this entire gun is remotely new. I took a stab at a load that impacted almost exactly where Hornady’s 3,345 FPS (!?!) hotrod load hit.

I didn’t try to call shots. Texas weather can’t be beat.